Bar Boycotts Sunday NFL Games, Raises Money for Veterans Instead

This Veterans Day weekend, a New Jersey bar did not show any NFL games and instead raised money for veterans.

On Sunday, Woody’s Roadside Tavern held a special concert featuring members of the New Jersey-based country group After the Reign, with a portion of the proceeds going to veterans charities, including the Green Beret Foundation and the Special Forces Charitable Trust.

Woody’s co-owners Chris Maltese, Jennifer Knapp and Rob Johnson joined Ainsley Earhardt on “Fox & Friends” to discuss the event and why they decided not to show NFL games.

Maltese said the idea came about after a regular customer, who is a veteran, asked them to turn off the football games on Sunday in honor of veterans.

“We thought about, and we thought it was a great idea,” Maltese said.

Knapp added that they wanted to give back to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, so they organized the patriotic event.

Johnson said they had veterans drive from hours away just to be a part of it, and it was a phenomenal day.

“Yesterday was the pinnacle of my life, to do something for the veterans first-hand in a local community,” Johnson said.

The NFL has been embroiled in the controversy over some players and teams refusing to stand for the national anthem.

Colin Kaepernick started the trend last year when he played quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, in a protest against racial inequality and police brutality. Although Kaepernick remains a free agent this NFL season, other players and teams have continued to protest.

The issue was thrust back into the spotlight in September when President Donald Trump said NFL owners should fire any “son of a b****” who doesn’t respect the anthem and flag. He has gone on to call the demonstrations disrespectful and blamed them for the NFL’s lower ratings and attendance.